Not Leanne's parents, Barbara (Penelope Wilton) and John (Patrick Malahide) and not Sarah (Sarah Smart), a stranger who is drawn into both the investigation and the family.

Producer Paul Rutman (The Virgin Queen) says: "Five Days is a gripping, multi-stranded story about the kind of fascinating crime which holds the front pages of our national newspapers and which terrifies and obsesses us in a compulsion to know more."

Jane Tranter, BBC Controller, Drama Commissioning, said: "It is a privilege to be making such a major piece of drama from the brilliant Gwyneth Hughes, and we are delighted to be collaborating once again with HBO, continuing our strong creative relationship which has seen us working together on many projects, most recently Tsunami: The Aftermath and Rome."